Snubber for vehicle springs



July 29, 1930. R. B. FAGEOL 1,771,560

SNUBBER FOR VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed Sept. 14, 1927 INVENTOR Rollie B. Fayeal,

u WATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1930 um EnsTAT-Es,

ROLLIE B. FAGEQL, or Los ANGELESJCALIFORNIA SNIIBBER non VEHICLE SPRINGS Application filed September 14, 1927 SerialNo. 219,415.

This inventionrelates to vehicle frame suspensions and particularly pertains tothe means-whereby the leaf. springs interposed between the vehicle main frameand its running'gear may be acted upon to give the vehicle'easier riding qualities.

At the presenttime various expedients have been used. and interposed between a vehicle frame and its running gear to dampen the action of the vehicle springs upon which the frame and vehicle body are mounted orto act in combin ation therewith'inabsorbing the initial shock ortending to absorb the rebound shock incident to excessive road impact due to irregularities and the like in the highways as encountered by the wheels of the running gear. In most instances such devices have tended to stifi'en the spring action or to'create a like result. In the present instance, however, simple means have been provided for effectively. increasing the frictional, engagement between contacting leaves of the vehicle spring and in addition thereto to obtain some beneficial results from'the inherent resiliency of the vehicle spring itself in absorbing minor spring vibrations and tending to effectively resist major spring vibrations.

The present invention contemplates the use of means engaging the main leafof the vehicle springo n one side and contacting with the opposite side of the spring bundle at two points rem'otefrom each other and directly bearing against separate leaves ofthespring whereby direct pressure will be exerted against separate leaves of the spring and will thus be transmitted from the respective leaves to the contacting faces between said leaves ample in the accompanying drawingswin which-',p- 1 Fig. 1 is a viewin side elevation showing one form of thepresentuinvention and in which form the pressure member possesses in-. lierent resiliency throughout its length; i i i Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing another form of the invention as disclosed in Fig. 1,' but with a slightly differ ent form of pressure bar and the additional provision of a .yieldable washer upon the op- 1posite side of the spring from the pressure ar. i r

Fig. 3 is a View in transverse section through the device as shown in Fig. 1, and indicates the U bolt structure embracing the spring bundle. Y l Referring more particular'lyto the draw ing, 10 indicates a laminated vehicle spring here shown'as being of a semi-ellipticaltype.

This spring is formed with one or more main leaves 11, terminating at theiropposite ends in spring eyes 12: The eyes are providedlto receive spring shackle bolts by. which the spring is connecte'dwith the vehicle main frame 9 in some preferred manner. The leaves of the vehicle spring lie one against the other and are of graduated lengthbecoming gradually shorter toward thebottom of the spring bundle. This arrangement, which is a common one, resultsin'causing the ends ofthe leavesto overlap or the upper leaves to overhang the next succeeding lower leaf and to thus present an overhanging sur face of'each of theleaves arrangedin step formation. During the operation of'a vehicle spring the leaves flex in unison but have independent movement with relation to each other which results. in a longitudinal sliding action between the contacting faces of the. various leaves; It isidesir'able under certain conditions to increase thislongitud'inal frietion between-the leaves but this shouldnot be done in a manner to rigidly clamp all of the leaves together and .to thusi objectionably limitthe frictional movement between the spring leaves whichgin turn would, in effect, produce the stiff and non-yielding-spring except at times when excessive impact'is dealt to the vehicle. running gear. ,In order to obspring V at appoint wherewthe springis thin.

possibility of rattling. 7 through a cross member .14: which is provided and projectsdownwardly along the opposite sides'the'reof, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the bolt is of suflicient width tosnugly fit the opposite sides of the spring without binding-the leaves and without the U bolt; 13 passes with holes for accommodating the ends of the bolt 13 which are threaded to receive nuts 14*. .The legs of the bolt pass along opposite sides ofa pressure bar 15 this bar is here shown as being formed of spring steel and as being of a width substantially equal to the width of the spring leaves. The opposite ends of this barare curled to form eyes 16 and 17. These eyes are formedupon the upper side of the bar and therefore provide cylindrical surfaces which bear againstthe overhangin under faces of certain ofthe vehicle Ieaves. The eye 16, is here shown as hearing against'the leaf 18, and thus'creating friction between the contacting faces of leaves 11 and 18. The eye 17 is here'shown as bearing against a leaf 19, which creates friction between the contacting faces of-leaves 19 and S20, and also creates friction between leaves 18 and 20 and 18 and 11. It will therefore be seen that frictional resistance is set up between the faces of relatively large number ofleaves at a point wherethespring is thick and that other frictional-resistance is set up between a relati'vely small number of leaves This outer eye 16, also tends to support the thin end of the spring and to-as sist this thin end in absorbingexcessivef shock which might otherwise tend tocrack thespring leaves.

. In the form of the invention shown in Fi 2, of thedrawingythe pressure bar 15 A- is provided with'a-simplerecess portion and upturned rigid ends .21 and 22;. which bear against the-overhangingexposed ends of cer- :ta'in of the leavesof the spring. ;A,. U' bolt 28-,

in this instancaisits against the recessed section f24tof the pressure bar 15A, and extends upwardly along the opposite sides of ."the spring and to a point above and beyond .the '"upperr spring main leaf. A 1 convexed spring washer 2 5, is disposed abovethe main leaf and is perforated at-two points to receive the threaded legs of' the U-bolt; suitable nuts 26 are mounted upon these threaded portions of the bolt and exert pressure against the convexed member 25. In this instance the pressure bar 15A is preferably formed of the snubbe'r structures and that two of these in this manner they may be desirably increased to materially improve the riding qualities of the vehicle.

In operation of the present invention, the pressure members are applied so that their pressure exerting faces are disposed beneath and against separate overhanging ends of spring leaves after which the devices are clamped in position, using the single contact or pressure point upon the main leaf as a fulcrum. Then pressure is exerted upon the vehicle spring to place it in tension and to also suitably tension the pressure bars 15 and 15.A and in some instances the pressure washer25.

I-Vhen the spring is then in operation, the pressure bars, without material flexing, will permit the spring to flex although this will be somewhat resisted by the stiffening of the end of the spring and the'fri'ctional engagement of the contacting faces of theleaves. hen, on the other hand, excessive shock is imparted to the vehicle spring there is a tendency for the spring to straighten. If this strai htening'force emanates from a point between the contacting point of the structure upon the main leaf and the center of the spring it will be evidentthat the spring will swing upwardly, exerting pressure against thecontact point on the mainleaf and at the same time exerting a downward pressure on the outer end of'thepressure bar as on the eye 16 in Fig. 1. This tends to increase the pressure exerted against the spring leaves and will thusautomatically act to establish additional frictional contact between the leaves,

whicl1contact will in effect resist relative longitudinal niovement of the leaves and.

absorb theimpact. "If, on the other hand,

ill)

. of my invention as known to me, it will bethat this force will be transmitted to the spring directly to the eye 16, as shown in Fig. 1, and that this in turn will tend to force the eye 17 upwardly against the leaves and thus increase their friction. In both events there will be set up between the two spaced contact points on one side and the one contact point on the main leaf, an additional force tending to tighten the leaves with relas tion to each ot ier where under normal conditions these leaves would be comparatively free in their movement.

It will thus be seen that by, the means here disclosed a simple device is provided for application to a vehicle spring and by which the minor vibrations of the vehicle spring may be readily absorbed without material resistance, and without affecting the riding qualities of the car, and that major road shock and body vibrations will be automatically resisted by creating conditions in the vehicle spring which werenot before present and which permit the spring to function in its intended manner but with gradually increas ing resisting qualities.

ll liile I have shown the preferred form understood that various changes might bemade in the combinatlon of the construction I; and arrangement of parts by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is 1. In combination with a cle spring, means of engaging the main leaf spring at a single point upon its upper face; means of engaging separate leaves of the spring at a point on 'theirlower faces; and said first means being capable ofcreating a binding action. upon the embraced portion of the spring and between said'points of contact.

2. In combination with a multi-leaf vehicle spring, a snubber therefor, having three contact points arranged in triangular relation to each other, one of said contact points bearing against the upper face of the spring main leaf and the other two said contact points bearing against the overhanging under faces of separate leaves, and said first contact point comprising means for, tensioning the portion of the spring substantially bound by the triangular area. 7

3. In combination with a multi-leaf vehicle spring of the type comprising leaves with normally free ends extending in proximity-to each other, a snubber therefor. having three contact points arranged in triangular relation to each other, two of said contact points bearing against the under faces of the overhanging spring leaves and'being yieldably connected, and a substantially'rigid member connected with said yieldable connection at multi-leaf vehi a point intermediate thelcontact's and: engaglng the opposite sideof the spring main leaf at the other point. ofthe triangle, the leaf ends embraced bysaid snubber being other-v wise unconfined at the regionoccupiedby the snubben mx' 1 i 1 i 4:. .In combination with a multi-leaf vehicle spring, a snubber thereforyhaving three contact points arranged iii-triangular relation to each other, two of saidcontact points bearing againstthe under facesiof the overhanging spring leaves andb'eing yieldably connected, and a substantially rigid member connected with said yieldable connection at a point intermediatelthe 'contacts and en: gaging the opposite side i of the spring main leaf-at the other point of thetriangle; and means for adjustably tensioning the'yield-i ing member against thespring i f W 5. In combination with a multi-leaf' vehicle spring, asnubber therefor having "three contact points disposed in triangular rela. tion' to each other, one of which contact points rests against the upper face of the spring main leaf, the other two of which contact points bear against the under faces ofseparate leaves of thcfspringyand said first mentioned contact point comprising means i for creating the binding action be tween the lowerfcontact points aind the upper contact point whereby the intervening spring section will be placedunder tension.

"In combination with a ,multi-leaf" vehid-e $p g a U 1 0% cmbracingthe spring and resting against the -upper face of the main leaf and apressure bar disposed beneath the spring and engaged by the Ubolt, said pressure bar contacting with the spring at the opposite ends of the bar and directly bearing against the under overhanging faces of separate spring leaves.

7. In combination with a multi-leaf ve h1cle spring, a U bolt embracing the spring andresting against the upper face of the main leaf and a pressure bar disposed beneath the spring and engaged by the U bolt,

said pressure bar contacting with the spring at the opposite ends of the bar and directly bearing against the under overhanging faces of separate spring leaves, and means for creating a variable pressure against said spring leaves by said bar.

8. In combination with a multi-leaf vehicle spring, a snubber therefor, comprising a resilient pressure bar ext-ending beneath a vehicle spring adjacent to the end thereof,

upturned portions formed at the ends of said bar for contacting with the exposed under faces of separate spring leaves and a U bolt 1: embracing the spring and extending down' along the oppositesidesthereof and engaging the resilient pressure bar whereby said bar may be rigidly held at a desired pressure against the spring leaves with which it conmats-and will create friction between the contaeting faces of the leaves; a 7 Y 9. A emitting device for laminated s1 )r-ings', comprising a plate having inturned ends-that seat against one side of a spring,

a second plate seating against the other side of the spring, and a U-bolt extending around the mid portion of the first named plate and extending through openings in the second named plate, the first named plate being provided with adepressed portion that serves as a seat for the bolt.

10. A snubbin'g device for laminated springs, comprising'a plate having end portions for seating against the exposed face of a lamination, a second plate that is shorter than the first named plate, for seating against the exposed face of a second lamination, and disposed opposite to the mid portion of the first named plate, and means for drawing said plates toward one another. i

11. A. snubhing device clamping member for engaging the lamination at one side of a laminatedspring, a

second clamping member for engaging each of two laminations at'the opposite side of the spring,and means for rigidly holding said'members in clamping engagement with the said laminations, the first named memher being disposed intermediate of but above the points of engagement of the secondnamed member. r

r In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification. V p ROLLIE' B. FAGEOL.

comprising a r 

